214 



AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



Threshing Alsike Clover, Etc. 



I have read with interest in past num- 

 bers articles on Alsike clover, and its 

 profitable yield as a paying seed crop. 

 Now, I would be thankful if some one 

 would give the best method of threshing 

 and cleaning the seed. Is a clover-huller 

 needed, as in saving common red clover 

 seed ? I will be glad to see an article in 

 the Bee Journal giving the best method. 



Our honey crop is a failure this year. 

 We had a fair stand of white clover, but 

 the weather conditions were such that 

 much of it does not bloom, and what 

 bloom we had, barely gave subsistence 

 to the bees. E. Drane. 



Eminence, Ky., July 27, 1892. 



[Perhaps Mr. M. M. Baldridge, who 

 has had large experience with Alsike, 

 will favor the readers of the Bee Jour- 

 nal with an article giving the desired 

 information. — Eds.] 



Stored 40 Pounds Per Colony. 



My bees have stored 40 pounds of 

 white clover honey per colony this sea- 

 son. Bert Lasby. 



Castle Rock, Minn., Aug. 1, 1892. 



A Most Trying- Season. 



This has been the worst season for 

 years. Bees were in first-rate condition 

 before fruit-bloom, but we had a snow- 

 storm on May 19 and 20, followed by 

 cold rain, and it rained nearly all of 

 June. We had no surplus on July 15, 

 though a little since, perhaps, but none 

 ready to come off. We have had violent 

 storms, a cyclone, and what not. It has 

 been a trying season. 



L. J. Sherman. 



Hanover, N. H., Aug. 1, 1892. 



Asparagus — Shade for Bees. 



Asparagus yields honey here in New 

 Jersey. Its drooping, bell-shaped blos- 

 soms always contain nectar, and are 

 visited by the bees in sunshine or 

 shower. By breaking the blossoms 

 apart, the nectar can be plainly seen. 



We have not taken any honey yet, but 

 we are not disappointed, as the hives 

 are just " piled full " of bees, and we 

 never hope for any surplus until fall. 

 What is the matter with Jersey bee- 

 keepers ? It seems that "a slim trio" 

 are all that make themselves heard 

 through the Bee Journal. 



By the way, this hot weather that we 

 have just passed through, has caused 

 me to learn how to make an inexpensive 

 shade for hives. The bees were hang- 

 ing out in great bunches, so having a 

 few old barrels handy, I simply knocked 

 them apart, straightened the nails, 

 placed two staves about 16 inches apart, 

 and nailed the other staves on the top 

 crosswise. Two foot long sticks on one 

 end as legs to catch the hives when hung 

 to the south side of the hive, made it 

 complete. Joseph Ehret. 



Trenton, N. J., Aug. 1, 1892. 



They Prefer December. 



We read all that was said regarding 

 the meeting of the North American Bee- 

 Keepers' Association, in the Bee Jour- 

 nal for July 28. It would be simply 

 impossible for queen-breeders, as well as 

 many other bee-keepers in this locality, 

 to meet at Washington in September. 

 December would suit us better. 



F. A. Lockhart & Co. 



Lake George, N. Y. 



What Ails the Bees ? 



My bees are troubled with a disease 

 known as "claviceps apium." They 

 have been troubled with it for the last 

 three years, but not, as I thought, 

 seriously. So far this year they had 

 been entirely free from all symptoms 

 until July 21, and for the last 2% days 

 they have died very fast. On July 21, 

 4 colonies died, and to-day 50 colonies 

 are dying very fast. I would like to 

 know what is the trouble with them. I 

 am at present giving them this prepara- 

 tion : Salicyclic acid, one ounce ; soda 

 borax, one ounce ; water, 4 pints ; but 

 this prescription is of the year 1890, 

 and I think that there may be some 

 newer discovery since then. 



F. M. Hart. 



Travers, Calif., July 22, 1892. 



[Can some reader tell what the trouble 

 is, and also give a remedy ? — Eds.]» 



Poor Season for Bees, Etc. 



The honey season has been very poor 

 here. I wintered 19 colonies, and in- 

 creased to 24 this season, my best col- 

 ony giving me 25 pounds of comb honey. 

 The full amount taken this year is 

 nearly 75 pounds, as near as I can tell. 

 I have kept bees three years, and use 

 the eight-frame single and chaff hives. 



